Chapter 561 : A Barter of Legends and Longing

Alas, after a long while, there was no response. Instead, many people inquired about how he was selling the Longevity Pill [a legendary pill that can extend one's lifespan], which left Eldrin Chen feeling deeply disappointed.

With no other choice, Eldrin Chen exchanged one Longevity Pill and the Sole Supremacy Sword [a sword of unparalleled sharpness and prestige] for a single Fifth Rank Defensive Spiritual Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact designed for protection] and three Fifth Rank Heaven and Earth Treasure [rare spiritual objects that contain immense natural energy]. Only then did he step down from the platform.

Seeing that Eldrin Chen had failed to obtain any Tribulation Crossing Flower [a miraculous herb crucial for surviving cultivation tribulations], Exquisite Jiang's expression turned somber. "Could it be," she said with a frown, "that among so many Infant Soul Cultivator [cultivators who have formed their Primordial Infant Soul], not a single one possesses a Tribulation Crossing Flower?"

"I don't think that's the case,"

Eldrin Chen shook his head, a wry smile on his lips. "Our cultivation is only at the Infant Soul Early Stage [the initial phase of the Infant Soul realm], and we are newly ascended Infant Soul cultivators. By the time we took the stage, the Barter Convention [a grand gathering where cultivators trade rare items] was nearly at its end. The truly exceptional treasures had long been claimed by the first several dozen cultivators who went up."

"Let's wait for the next opportunity. If all else fails, the few Tribulation Crossing Flower plants growing within our clan's grounds will mature eventually."

Exquisite Jiang furrowed her brow, her voice tinged with unwillingness. "Another day, I shall ask Freya if she or her connections have a means to procure Tribulation Crossing Flower."

"..."

Although they had not acquired their most desired Tribulation Crossing Flower, the unexpected gain of the Nirvana Fruit [a fruit said to grant a cultivator a chance at rebirth or profound enlightenment] meant their venture was not without reward.

Once the Barter Convention concluded, they immediately returned to Ji Continent. Discover more cultivation stories at audio-novel`com.

Upon arriving at Verdant Lotus Isle, Eldrin Chen immediately sought out the Old Patriarch. Seeing him, Eternal Profound Chen inquired, "How did the journey fare?"

"It went smoothly enough," Eldrin Chen nodded, recounting the treasures he had acquired. "Gather the materials. Let us first set up the Five Veins Infant Transformation Formation [a grand formation designed to nurture and transform nascent souls]."

"I shall have Lior handle that," the Old Patriarch replied with a smile.

Over the years, the Chen Clan had already gathered all the materials needed for the Five Veins Infant Transformation Formation, save for the crucial Five Veins Precious Jade [a rare jade containing the refined essence of the five elemental veins].

Contemplating the wondrous utility of the Five Veins Infant Transformation Formation, a flicker of joy crossed the Old Patriarch's expression. After a moment of thought, he asked, "You obtained two portions of Earthly Path Energy [a rare, earth-aligned spiritual energy vital for advancing a Golden Core cultivator's cultivation]. How do you intend to allocate them?"

At these words, Eldrin Chen's expression shifted slightly.

He pondered for a moment before speaking. "Within our clan, there are six or seven Golden Core Cultivators [cultivators who have condensed a Golden Core, the third major realm] capable of utilizing Earthly Path Energy. However, few possess the seniority and merit to rightfully claim its use."

"Of these four portions of Earthly Path Energy, you and Elara Lin naturally have priority."

Eternal Profound Chen's brow twitched slightly, but he did not refuse. Setting aside familial closeness, they were indeed the most suitable candidates.

In recent years, while Eldrin Chen and Exquisite had been engrossed in secluded cultivation and personal trials, the myriad affairs of both the clan and the Heavenly Ruins Alliance had been managed by him and Elara.

Eldrin Chen was able to leave the Ji Continent on multiple journeys primarily because he had the backing of cultivators like the Old Patriarch and other clan members. Otherwise, being confined to the Spirit Mountain and not daring to leave rashly, how would he have had the opportunity to travel the world?

In the repeated major battles, the two of them contributed the most effort and were among the key pillars who had persevered since the early days. Naturally, they were the first candidates to receive the Earthly Path Energy [a profound spiritual essence aligned with the power of the earth].

Thinking of this, Eternal Profound Chen asked, "What about the other two strands?"

"Give one to Silas," Exquisite Jiang spoke up, then added, "Back when Silas was traveling the Vast Sea, she obtained treasures like the Five Veins Precious Jade [a rare jade containing the spiritual essence of five elemental veins] and the Earth Mother Energy [a nurturing spiritual essence of the earth]."

"To tell the truth, one of the strands of Earth Mother Energy that Eldrin and I used for our breakthroughs was actually found by her."

"Although her current cultivation is only at the Golden Core 6th Tier [the sixth level of the Golden Core stage], we should still start preparing for her breakthrough to the Infant Soul [the stage where the cultivator's nascent soul forms]."

Eldrin Chen nodded and said with a smile, "Then let's keep the final strand for now. It's possible that Exquisite and I will still need it to refine the Earthly Path Pill [a supreme elixir for advancing cultivation realms] when we attempt to break through to the Infant Soul Mid Stage [the middle phase of the Infant Soul stage]."

The Old Patriarch chuckled and then said, "By the way, now that we've obtained the Nirvana Fruit [a legendary fruit said to grant rebirth or profound enlightenment], we should begin preparations for crafting the Nirvana Pool [a mystical pool that bestows longevity and rebirth]. Where do you plan to place it?"

"Let's place it at Spirit Isle Lake,"

Eldrin Chen stated. The Nirvana Pool was a clan heritage treasure; once successfully crafted, it could bestow ten thousand years of Immortality [a state of agelessness and resistance to decay]. This was the true foundation of the clan's legacy. Placing it at Spirit Isle Lake, under the protection of the Azure Abyss Sword [a legendary divine sword], would be the safest course.

"Very well," Eternal Profound Chen gave a slight nod. "I shall issue the orders then, for the clan and the Heavenly Ruins Alliance to procure the materials needed to gather the components for refining the Nirvana Pool [a mystical pool that can cleanse and rejuvenate a cultivator's foundation]."

"..."

Not long after Eternal Profound Chen departed, Lior Chen delivered the materials for setting up the Five Veins Infant Transformation Formation [a grand formation designed to aid cultivators in their breakthrough to the Infant Soul Realm by harmonizing five spiritual veins] to Immortal Apricot Island.

This treasure was being prepared for clan cultivators who specialized in fire-attribute cultivation arts. The Fifth Rank Underground Fire Vein [a powerful subterranean channel of fire-aspected spiritual energy] beneath Immortal Apricot Island was nearing completion of its reconnection, making it the perfect location to establish the Fire Vein Infant Soul Formation Formation [a specialized formation that utilizes a fire spiritual vein to assist in the Infant Soul breakthrough].

Setting up this Five Veins Infant Transformation Formation was not overly complicated. Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang worked together to refine the Formation [a complex array of inscribed patterns and energy channels that produces specific mystical effects]. After thirty-six days of diligent work, they successfully activated the Formation.

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Once the Formation was successfully established, Eldrin Chen suddenly noticed that the several Underground Fire Vein [subterranean channels of fire-aspected spiritual energy] beneath Immortal Apricot Island flared with brilliant light, showing signs of merging completely into one.

Exquisite Jiang was also surprised, saying with a hint of joy, "I never imagined this Five Veins Infant Transformation Formation could also aid in gathering and repairing Earth Vein [the spiritual arteries of the land, crucial for a region's vitality and cultivation potential]."

Eldrin Chen observed carefully for a moment before stating, "The Vast Righteousness True Lord possessed truly astonishing mastery over Formation. The method he pioneered for repairing Earth Vein and the technique for utilizing Earth Vein to achieve the Infant Soul breakthrough are fundamentally of the same origin."

"Although the repair Formation I adapted to suit our local conditions is somewhat different, its core principles remain largely unchanged. Therefore, it is within expectations that the two methods, when combined, would produce this synergistic effect."

As he spoke, a look of joy could not help but spread across his face.

Regardless, the restoration progress of the Earth Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated earth-attribute spiritual energy] had now accelerated greatly. It seemed it could be fully restored within ten years.

Once this Fifth Rank Earth Vein [a high-grade subterranean channel of earth spiritual energy] was restored, not only would the Chen Clan possess a Fifth Rank Earthfire Chamber [a specialized cultivation chamber fueled by earthfire energy], but they would also gain a treasure-producing site capable of yielding Fifth Rank Heaven and Earth Treasure [a rare spiritual treasure born from the convergence of heaven and earth energies].

With this thought, he turned to the Old Patriarch and asked, "Granduncle, how is the recovery of your vital energy [the foundational life force and cultivation essence of a cultivator] progressing?"

"There is still some way to go." Eternal Profound Chen shook his head. Understanding Eldrin Chen's implication, he continued, "Give me another twenty years, and my spiritual power will reach its peak, allowing me to attempt the Infant Soul Realm [the Nascent Soul stage of cultivation] breakthrough once more."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement. With the assistance of the Fire Vein Infant Soul Formation [a formation that channels subterranean fire energy to aid in Nascent Soul breakthroughs] and the Underground Fire Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated fire-attribute spiritual energy], the chances of successfully advancing to the Infant Soul [the Nascent Soul stage] would be significantly greater.

After departing from Immortal Apricot Island, Eldrin Chen made his way to Verdant Lotus Isle. There, he set up a Water Vein Nascent Soul Formation [a formation that channels subterranean water energy to aid in Nascent Soul breakthroughs].

Since there was no suitable Underground Earth Vein [a subterranean channel of earth-attribute spiritual energy] available, he instead utilized a Fourth Rank Superior Grade [a high-grade fourth-tier] Underground Earth Vein at Earth Lion Ridge to deploy a Earth Vein Nascent Soul Formation [a formation that channels subterranean earth energy to aid in Nascent Soul breakthroughs].

However, the earth vein power of a fourth-rank Underground Earth Vein was insufficient. Each activation of the formation would severely deplete the Earth Vein's energy.

Once this Earth Vein Nascent Soul Formation was used, regardless of success or failure, the Underground Earth Vein would be unable to nurture any spiritual treasures for three hundred years.

Moreover, excessive use could even cause the Underground Earth Vein [a subterranean spiritual energy channel] to degrade in rank or even collapse entirely.

Therefore, deploying this formation at Earth Lion Ridge was merely a temporary expedient. In the future, should the Chen Clan acquire a Fifth Rank [the fifth highest grade in a cultivation ranking system] earth vein, the formation would need to be relocated.

After another three years of such busy preparations, Eldrin Chen finally refined the Spirit Spring [a natural spring imbued with spiritual energy] at Spirit Isle Lake into a Nirvana Pool [a mystical pool with restorative properties], thereby fully assimilating the gains from his journey.

In the days that followed, Eldrin Chen continued his secluded cultivation at Spirit Isle Lake, spending his spare time meticulously refining and perfecting his personal path of cultivation.

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